On April 17, 2024, in Killeen, Texas, 26-year-old Jarquis D. Pold was fatally shot following an argument with his friend, De'Tavius K. Smith, also 26. The incident occurred at Pold's residence on the 6300 block of Taree Loop, where police responded to a 911 call from Smith, who reported that he had shot his friend.
Upon arrival, officers found Pold deceased inside the home with apparent gunshot wounds. Justice of the Peace Nicola James pronounced him dead at 3:01 p.m.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the two men, who were friends, had engaged in an argument that escalated into a physical altercation, culminating in the shooting.
Shortly after the shooting, Copperas Cove police officers located Smith's vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in Lampasas County. Smith refused to exit his vehicle and subsequently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Lampasas County Justice of the Peace Dan Hause pronounced him dead at 2:06 p.m. Authorities confirmed that no officers discharged their weapons during the incident. The Lampasas County Sheriff's Department and the Texas Rangers are conducting the death investigation related to Smith's suicide.
This tragic event marked the fourth homicide in Killeen for the year 2024. Detectives from the Killeen Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case.
